Telescopic attachment for endoscope

Abstract

A telescopic attachment mechanism includes an inner cylinder configured to attach around a distal end of a scope and an outer cylinder slidingly attached around the inner cylinder. The outer cylinder is configured to move from a proximal retracted position to a distal extended position. The outer cylinder in the distal extended position is configured to extend distally beyond the distal end of the scope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telescopic attachment mechanism comprising:
 an inner cylinder configured to attach around a distal end of a scope;   an outer cylinder slidingly attached around the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder configured to move from a proximal most retracted position to a distal extended position, wherein the outer cylinder in the distal extended position is configured to extend distally beyond the distal end of the scope;   an advancement string attached to a proximal end of the outer cylinder, wherein the advancement string is configured such that pulling proximally on the advancement string moves the outer cylinder distally;   a retraction string, different than the advancement string, that is attached to a distal end of the outer cylinder, wherein the retraction string is configured such that pulling proximally on the retraction string moves the outer cylinder proximally; and wherein in the proximal most retracted position, a distal end of the outer cylinder is in a most proximal position relative to the inner cylinder, and wherein the distal end of the outer cylinder is substantially longitudinally aligned with a distal end of the inner cylinder when the outer cylinder is in the proximal most retracted position.   
     
     
         2 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder is configured to attach around the distal end of the scope such that a distal tip of the inner cylinder and a distal tip of the scope are substantially flush in the proximal most retracted position. 
     
     
         3 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the outer cylinder in the proximal most retracted position is 5 mm or less from the distal end of the inner cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder in the distal extended position is configured to extend up to 30 mm beyond the distal end of the scope. 
     
     
         5 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the inner cylinder includes a first anti-rotational element, and wherein an inner surface of the outer cylinder includes a second anti-rotational element, the first and second anti-rotational elements configured to engage with one another to maintain rotational alignment of the inner cylinder with the outer cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment ring configured to fit around the inner cylinder and the distal end of the scope to attach the inner cylinder to the distal end of the scope. 
     
     
         7 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the advancement string is configured to extend between the outer cylinder and inner cylinder to loop over the distal end of the inner cylinder and the scope and to extend proximally through a working channel of the scope. 
     
     
         8 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder includes one or more grooves on an inner surface thereof configured to accomodate the advancement string extending from the outer cylinder and through one of the one or more grooves between the outer cylinder and inner cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction string is configured to loop over a distal end of the inner cylinder and the scope and to extend proximally through a working channel of the scope. 
     
     
         10 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder includes one or more grooves on an inner surface thereof configured to accommodate the retraction string extending from the outer cylinder and through one of one or more grooves between the outer cylinder and inner cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder includes a plurality of extendable projecting elements, the extendable projecting elements configured to collapse when the outer cylinder is in the proximal most retracted position and to expand radially when the outer cylinder is in the distal extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder comprises a plurality of ligating bands therearound. 
     
     
         13 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 12 , further comprising a banding string having beads thereon, the beads configured to be positioned between each ligating band, the banding string extending along the exterior of the telescopic attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder is further configured to rotate relative to the inner cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . A method of performing a medical procedure, the method comprising:
 inserting a scope into the body lumen, the scope including a telescoping attachment mechanism attached thereto, wherein an outer cylinder of the telescoping attachment mechanism is in a proximal most retracted position as the scope is inserted into the body lumen, wherein in the proximal most retracted position, a distal end of the outer cylinder is in a most proximal position relative to an inner cylinder of the telescoping attachment mechanism, and wherein the distal end of the outer cylinder is substantially longitudinally aligned with a distal end of the inner cylinder when the outer cylinder is in the proximal most retracted position;   moving the outer cylinder to a distal extended position by applying a proximal force to an outer cylinder advancement string that extends through the scope;   performing a procedure in the body lumen with a working element on the telescoping attachment mechanism while the outer cylinder is in the distal extended position; and   retracting the outer cylinder proximally to a retracted position by applying a proximal force to an outer cylinder retraction string that extends through the scope, the retraction string different than the advancement string.   
     
     
         16 . The telescopic attachment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cylinder is telescopic relative to the inner cylinder.